The area of present-day Tanohata was part of ancient Mutsu Province, dominated by the Nambu clan during the Edo period, who ruled Hachinohe Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate.

With the Meiji period establishment of the modern municipalities system, the village of Tanohata was created within Kitahei District on April 1, 1889.

[8] Tanohata has a mayor-council form of government with a directly elected mayor and a unicameral village council of 10 members.

Tanohata, together with the city of Miyako, town of Iwaizumi and the villages of Fudai and Yamada, collectively contributes three seats to the Iwate Prefectural legislature.

In terms of national politics, the village is part of Iwate 2nd district of the lower house of the Diet of Japan.

Sanriku Railway – Rias Line Media related to Tanohata, Iwate at Wikimedia Commons